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What's Happening? Prescribed burn planned at Deer Haven and more

Posted:
10/11/2017 10:21:28 AM MDT

Prescribed burn planned at Deer Haven

The Bureau of Land Management is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn in the Deer Haven area, approximately 15 miles northwest of Cañon City, south of High Park Road, and west of County Road 69 in northern Fremont County.

Depending on weather and fuel moisture conditions, the prescribed burn could begin in early to mid-October. Approximately 107 acres of BLM land will be treated to reduce accumulated hazardous fuel and improve wildlife habitat. Targeted fuels include ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, decadent grasses and other ground fuel that has accumulated since previous treatments.

The project will create a mosaic of burned and unburned areas intended to reduce conifer encroachment in grass parks while improving forage for wildlife and domestic livestock. Prescribed fire also helps to create various stages of plant succession, which is critical to the health of fire-adapted ecosystems.

Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low lying areas.

The Florence Pioneer Museum just completed a showing of model trains by the Pikes Peak "N" Gineers Model Train Club of Colorado Springs. (Special to the Daily Record)

The Florence Pioneer Museum just completed a wonderful showing of model trains by the Pikes Peak "N" Gineers Model Train Club of Colorado Springs. Now, FPM and Lt. Col Bryce Nelson Commander, locally of the Fremont Starfire Cadet Squadron, want to put together a model train display for the museum. Nelson has the model trains, the museum has a display case but they need a little help to make the showing more complete. The Florence Pioneer Museum is looking to borrow a Christmas Village for a seasonal display with the model trains through the month of December. The Christmas Village must fit into the display, so if you think you might have something that will work, bring a couple of stores or houses by the museum and see if they will fit in the case.

Additionally, the museum has a large space in the bottom of the train display case to show model train cars of the "G" gauge size. The museum also would like to borrow these cars through the Christmas season.

Located at 100 S. Pikes Peak Ave. in Florence, museum hours are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The museum's phone number is 719-784-1904.

Nelson invites other train hobbyists to stop by the Florence Pioneer Museum and leave contact information as he would like to start up a local model train club in Florence/Cañon City and the surrounding areas. He is also looking for venues to be able to set up model trains for the community to enjoy. For more information, contact Nelson at 719-429-1444 or bnelson5563@gmail.com.

Open houses set for draft AHRA management plan and environmental assessment

The public is invited to a series of open houses and to offer written input on the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment proposed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

Open houses on the draft will be held during the third week of October in Colorado Springs, Buena Vista and Cañon City. The public is invited to make comments until Nov. 10.

The AHRA Management Plan and Environmental Assessment provide a framework for managing numerous recreation activities along the 152-mile river corridor. The release of this draft plan follows a comprehensive review of environmental, recreational and cultural resources along with extensive public involvement and review of public input.

The BLM, USFS and CPW carefully considered key issues identified through a scoping process in 2016. These included boating capacities, management of fisheries and wildlife habitat, public river access and facilities.

The draft outlines four alternatives for future management in the recreation area, providing a diversity of recreation opportunities from primitive lower use/development opportunities to urban higher use/development opportunities.

Public input will be used by the AHRA partnership as it prepares its final management plan and environmental assessment. The agencies hope to release the final document by early 2018.

The AHRA partnership manages river-based recreation through Browns Canyon National Monument. The BLM and USFS manage the 21,589-acre Browns Canyon National Monument, which was designated in 2015.

The Cañon City public open house will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 E. Main St.

For more information about the AHRA, contact the recreation area at 719-539-7289, or visit the Visitor Center at the corner of G and Sackett Streets in Salida.

Fog seal operations set for Friday and Saturday

Fog seal operations on the streets that recently were chip sealed is scheduled by the city's contractor for Friday and Saturday. No Parking signs will be set out prior to that. The City of Cañon City thanks residents for their cooperation.

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